Program Manager

About Aquia Inc.

Named the “#1 Best Remote Startup to Work For in 2025” by Built In, Aquia is a digital services firm specializing in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and compliance automation for the U.S. government.

Founded by Veterans, we are passionate about making our country digitally capable and secure. Since 2021, we’ve generated millions in cost savings through cloud services and licensing optimization, enabled civil servants to double health care fraud investigations through streamlined cloud-based systems, and reduced authorization timelines by 74% through modernized security processes. Last year, we were named the 2024 Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOSB) of the Year by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Role Overview

The Program Manager is Aquia's primary owner of contract performance on a single large federal engagement. You are accountable for the full lifecycle of program delivery- from client relationships and staffing to budget, risk, and organic growth. You operate as the final escalation point internally and the strategic face of Aquia externally, building the long-term partnership with government stakeholders while ensuring the day-to-day program runs with discipline and excellence.

As Program Manager, you work with significant autonomy. You don’t want a playbook handed to you- you want to write it, execute against it, and adapt it when the environment changes.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Performance & Delivery Oversight

Serve as the accountable lead for all contract deliverables, milestones, and performance outcomes

Maintain a strategic contract roadmap aligned to the client's mission priorities and evolving needs

Own the program risk register, integrating inputs from project and product leads; ensure risks are identified, tracked, and actively mitigated

Oversee program budget and burn rate; proactively flag variances and model corrective actions

Monitor contract health against PWS/SOW requirements; escalate issues before they become findings

Client Relationships & Stakeholder Management

Act as Aquia's primary point of contact with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and key government stakeholders

Build and maintain strategic relationships across the client organization, including leadership levels above the day-to-day POC

Negotiate scope, timelines, and contract adjustments with the customer as program conditions evolve

Lead CPARS preparation and manage the formal performance evaluation process

Represent Aquia with credibility during audits, reviews, and executive touchpoints

Reporting & Communication

Produce and own monthly Program Status Reports (internal and external), ensuring accuracy, consistency, and strategic framing

Fulfill all program-level reporting requirements as defined in the contract PWS/SOW

Serve as incident response communications lead, coordinating Aquia's response posture and stakeholder notifications

Act as the final internal and client-facing escalation point for program issues

Staffing & Team Leadership

Define roles and responsibilities across the program team, including subcontractors

Manage subcontractor relationships: performance, deliverables, and compliance with contract terms

Own onboarding and offboarding for all program personnel

Address issues in partnership with Project Managers; create conditions for team performance and retention

Partner with Aquia recruiting and hiring managers on backfill and growth hiring for your program

Business Development & Organic Growth

Identify and pursue organic growth opportunities within your portfolio; document and communicate white space to Aquia business development leadership

Contribute to proposal efforts and past performance write-ups tied to your program

Represent Aquia's capabilities in client conversations in a way that positions the firm for expanded work

Required Qualifications

You must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident, currently residing in the US, and able to obtain Public Trust clearance.

Experience

8+ years of program or project management experience in federal IT contracting

PMP, PgMP, CSM, or equivalent program management certification

Direct experience supporting CMS programs strongly preferred; federal experience broadly considered

Demonstrated experience owning contract performance on a federal program- including COR relationships, deliverables, and CPARS

Experience managing teams of 20+ people, including subcontractors or matrixed staff

Proven track record managing program budgets and burn rate in a T&M or fixed-price federal contract environment

Experience negotiating scope changes and contract modifications with government clients

Domain Knowledge

Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS and contract vehicle structures (IDIQ, BPA, T&M, FFP)

Familiarity with federal IT compliance frameworks: FISMA, NIST 800-53, and FedRAMP concepts

Exposure to digital modernization, cloud modernization, or cybersecurity programs preferred

Understanding of federal program reporting requirements (status reports, CDRLs, deliverable tracking)

Skills & Competencies

Exceptional written and verbal communication; able to translate technical delivery status into executive-level narratives

Strong judgment in ambiguous situations; knows when to escalate, when to decide, and when to involve others

Organized and detail-oriented without losing sight of the strategic picture

Comfortable managing conflict- with clients, subcontractors, and internal team members- professionally and effectively

Collaborative partner to Aquia project managers, technical leads, and internal operations

Preferred Qualifications

Familiarity with Medicare parts A/B/C/D

Experience with agile delivery in a federal context (SAFe, Scrum, or hybrid)

Familiarity with Aquia's core practice areas: security, compliance, engineering, and UX/UI

Experience supporting agency-wide programs with multiple workstreams and cross-functional teams

Remote - USA
$160,000—$195,000 USD

Benefits

Premium health care plans (90% employer-paid)

Employee stock plan

100% 401k match (up to IRS annual max)

Generous PTO package

Personal training and development budget

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Aquia Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any federal, state, or local protected class.